Kamilla Rakhimova vs. Barbora Krejcikova — US Open 2026 First-Round Match Report
Barbora Krejcikova hit almost three times as many winners as Kamilla Rakhimova.
She also hit herself out of the US Open.
Rakhimova absorbed the Czech’s heavier ball, stayed steadier when the match tightened and defeated the two-time Grand Slam singles champion 7-6(4), 6-2 to produce one of the more notable early exits in the women’s draw.
There was nothing anonymous about the opponent she removed. Krejcikova won Roland Garros in 2021 and Wimbledon in 2024, has been a US Open quarterfinalist twice and built an extraordinary second career in doubles, where she has won multiple majors and Olympic gold.
Rakhimova, by contrast, arrived without a WTA singles title and with a career-high ranking of No. 60. The 25-year-old was born in Yekaterinburg and now represents Uzbekistan after previously competing for Russia.
On this afternoon, reputation counted for very little.
Krejcikova Keeps Swinging, but Rakhimova Refuses to Go Away
The first set was a much tighter affair than the second would become.
Rakhimova held to open and the pair traded service games through 3-2 before she finally made the first move, breaking Krejcikova for 4-2.
The advantage did not last.
Krejcikova broke straight back for 4-3 and levelled at 4-4, restoring the balance to a set that had already contained several long, pressure-filled games.
Neither player gave way from there.
Rakhimova moved to 5-4, Krejcikova answered for 5-5, and two more holds sent them into a tiebreak.
The breaker was messy rather than clean, with mini-breaks exchanged repeatedly. Rakhimova handled the disorder better, opening enough separation late and taking it 7-4.
Krejcikova had been the more aggressive player for much of the set, yet Rakhimova was the steadier one when the tiebreak arrived.
Set 1 at a Glance
- Rakhimova won 8 of 10 pressure points, well ahead of Krejcikova’s 2 of 10.
- Krejcikova hit 6 aces to Rakhimova’s 0, and 16 winners to Rakhimova’s 4.
- Krejcikova narrowly edged the total points race, 45 to 44, despite Rakhimova’s edge in pressure points.
Full Set 1 Stats
| Rakhimova | Statistic | Krejcikova |
|---|---|---|
| Set 1 Duration: 1h07m | ||
| 0.95 | Dominance Ratio | 1.05 |
| 4 | Winners | 16 |
| 16 | Unforced Errors | 20 |
| 249 | Serve Rating | 258 |
| 0 | Aces | 6 |
| 4 | Double Faults | 4 |
| 62% (29/47) | 1st Serve % | 52% (22/42) |
| 66% (19/29) | 1st Serve Points Won | 73% (16/22) |
| 42% (8/19) | 2nd Serve Points Won | 48% (10/21) |
| 67% (2/3) | Break Points Saved | 0% (0/1) |
| 196 | Return Rating | 142 |
| 27% (6/22) | 1st Return Points Won | 34% (10/29) |
| 52% (11/21) | 2nd Return Points Won | 58% (11/19) |
| 1/1 | Break Points Won | 1/3 |
| 44 | Total Points Won | 45 |
One Early Exchange, Then Rakhimova Pulls Away
The second set opened with both women immediately losing serve.
Rakhimova broke for 1-0, Krejcikova broke straight back, and the Czech then held to lead 2-1.
That was the last game she won.
Rakhimova levelled for 2-2, broke for 3-2 and consolidated for 4-2.
Another break followed.
At 5-2, Krejcikova was serving simply to stay in the tournament. Rakhimova broke once more and closed the match 6-2.
From 1-2 down, she had won five consecutive games.
There was no dramatic change in style. Rakhimova simply became harder to dislodge while Krejcikova’s error count kept climbing.
Set 2 at a Glance
- Rakhimova won her service games 3 of 4, while Krejcikova fell to 1 of 4.
- Rakhimova won 71% of pressure points, 10 of 14, compared with Krejcikova’s 4 of 14.
- Rakhimova won 35 of 60 total points, committing far fewer unforced errors, 10 to Krejcikova’s 21.
Full Set 2 Stats
| Rakhimova | Statistic | Krejcikova |
|---|---|---|
| Set 2 Duration: 0h48m | ||
| 1.39 | Dominance Ratio | 0.72 |
| 4 | Winners | 6 |
| 10 | Unforced Errors | 21 |
| 249 | Serve Rating | 157 |
| 1 | Aces | 1 |
| 4 | Double Faults | 4 |
| 47% (15/32) | 1st Serve % | 61% (17/28) |
| 87% (13/15) | 1st Serve Points Won | 47% (8/17) |
| 43% (9/21) | 2nd Serve Points Won | 27% (3/11) |
| 0% (0/1) | Break Points Saved | 25% (1/4) |
| 276 | Return Rating | 195 |
| 53% (9/17) | 1st Return Points Won | 13% (2/15) |
| 73% (8/11) | 2nd Return Points Won | 57% (12/21) |
| 3/4 | Break Points Won | 1/1 |
| 35 | Total Points Won | 25 |
Twenty-Two Winners Could Not Rescue Krejcikova
The full-match statistics reveal the contradiction at the center of the result.
Krejcikova struck 22 winners to Rakhimova’s eight and hit seven aces to one.
Ordinarily, that sort of attacking advantage gives a player control of the match. Not when it comes with 41 unforced errors.
Rakhimova committed 26, still far from pristine, but the 15-error gap more than compensated for the difference in winners.
She also handled the important moments better. Rakhimova won six of nine pressure points, converted four of five break points and saved half of the four she faced.
Krejcikova converted only two of four break chances and saved just one of five.
Rakhimova’s first serve was another quiet advantage. Although she landed only 49 percent of first serves, she won 72 percent of those points, compared with Krejcikova’s 61 percent.
After 149 points, Rakhimova had won 79 of them.
Krejcikova had won 70.
The Czech produced more spectacular tennis. Rakhimova produced the more sustainable match.
A Big Name Gone, and Sabalenka Is Suddenly in View
That is what makes this victory particularly significant for Rakhimova.
Krejcikova is not simply a recognizable seed who happened to lose early. She is one of the most accomplished active players in the women’s game, with major singles titles on two different surfaces and a doubles career that would stand on its own.
Rakhimova has never travelled through the sport with that kind of profile. She has spent much of her career around the lower reaches of the Top 100, reaching a career-best No. 60 in late 2024.
Now she has removed a two-time major champion from a Grand Slam draw.
And the draw gives the result an extra edge.
Rakhimova sits in Aryna Sabalenka’s third-round section. She will first face the winner of Aoi Ito and Oksana Selekhmeteva in Round 2. Get through that, and the world No. 1 could be waiting.
That is still one match away.
But after beating Krejcikova, Rakhimova has already shown that the name on the other side of the net does not appear to bother her very much.